Real Madrid vs Liverpool

Benzema made it four consecutive Champions League ties over two legs with three or more goals (three against Paris Saint-Germain, four against Chelsea, three ...

Not since 2004 has the club failed to reach at least the quarter-final stage, and that is exactly what Real Madrid achieved by beating Liverpool over two legs as they reached number 300. Much of how Liverpool’s attack was shut down was due to the superb job that Nacho did in marking Mohamed Salah. When they did come up against one another, Nacho won eight duels, more than any other player on the field, losing only four, while Mohamed Salah won four and lost six. In the opening stages of the first leg, the Liverpool press unsettled the Real Madrid defence significantly. From that point on, Real Madrid sat a little deeper and prepared for such breakaways and Liverpool could not find a way through. Liverpool lined up with a very offensive 4-2-4 shape, with Cody Gap and Diogo Jota working through the middle and alternating as deep-lying forwards who could operate almost like number 10 playmakers.

There were too many mediocre performances in Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid, but Alisson was outstanding yet again. The Reds faced a mammoth task in ...

[Alisson](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/alisson/) (8.1) was the Reds’ best player by some distance, showing why there is no better goalkeeper on the planet. [Man City](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/man-city) in the [Premier League](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/premier-league) on April 1 (12.30pm UK). [James Milner](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/james-milner/) (6.3) and [Darwin Nunez](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/darwin-nunez/) (6.3), both of whom tried their best and arguably worked harder than others. [Alisson](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/alisson/) was “excellent when called upon,” as well as hailing him as “the best player on the pitch.” [Ibrahima Konate](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/ibrahima-konate/) (7.1) was Liverpool’s best outfield individual on the night, holding the defence together at times. [Alisson](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/alisson/) was outstanding yet again.

Karim Benzema revealed that Real Madrid exploited a weakness in Liverpool's defence to win 1-0 win on Wednesday night in the Champions League.

"I told Camavinga that the two Liverpool centre-backs open up a lot," Benzema said. [Jurgen Klopp explains Darwin Nunez substitution despite Liverpool needing goals](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-darwin-nunez-substitution-breaking-26483512) [Liverpool player ratings as Alisson excellent but too many average against Real Madrid](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-player-ratings-madrid-breaking-26481786) [Why huge number of Bernabeu seats are covered during Real Madrid vs Liverpool](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bizarre-reason-huge-number-bernabeu-26483030) [Liverpool youngster 'realised the bigger picture' after leaving for Newcastle in 2021](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-youngster-realised-bigger-picture-26475121) [Jurgen Klopp has just unleashed a 'remarkable' new Liverpool partnership](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jurgen-klopp-new-liverpool-partnership-26469184) READ MORE: "I told him small details, as I know that the two Liverpool centre-backs play wide open, there is an opportunity in the centre and we did that in the goal. READ NEXT: [Liverpool ](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/here-is-rio-ferdinand-points-26483389)knew they needed a miracle to reach the quarter-finals of the [Champions League](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/real-madrid-played-youll-never-26483234) after losing 5-2 to [Madrid ](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/real-madrid-played-youll-never-26483234)in the first leg at Anfield and [Benzema](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-real-madrid-live-stream-26477819)'s goal in the 78th minute put the tie beyond any doubt.

Real Madrid boasted a three-goal lead over Liverpool heading into the second leg of the UEFA Champions League tie. Hosting the English side at Santiago ...

They began the game with conviction that a comeback was possible and even came painfully close to scoring the first goal on numerous occasions. However, there was a need for Real Madrid to score just one goal on the night to crush Liverpool’s hopes and kill the tie. On another night, the Frenchman could have sealed a hattrick, and it is clear that he is far from his best. Liverpool were far better at the Santiago Bernabeu than at Anfield and fought on a level field for large parts of the game. His situation did not improve later in the game either as he skied a sitter close to the 70-minute mark. Yet, he was the one to finally beat Alisson with a simple tap into the far post. The Uruguayan had the first big chance to score after the restart of play but could only manage a tame attempt against Allison. The German, as always, was stellar on the big night. He held the team’s fortress with poise while also creating a nuisance in the final third. Finished the game with 96% passes completed and a big chance created. Nacho was top-notch in the period that followed, as he completely silenced the Liverpool right wing with good defensive intensity. After silencing Mohamed Salah in the first leg at Anfield, Ancelotti opted to use Nacho as a left-back once again on Wednesday.

Jurgen Klopp opted to bring record signing Darwin Nunez off before the hour mark, despite Liverpool still needing a three goal turnaround against Real ...

In the end, Madrid were the better team and that's why the right team went through to the next round. "It was, in moments, a good performance, but Real Madrid was, for the whole game, the team in control of the game. You need a special performance and we didn't show a special performance tonight," Klopp added. And he conceded that the Reds had left themselves with too much to do after the disastrous defeat at Anfield three weeks ago. So, no risk with him and we have options on the bench." With the game still goalless after 57 minutes, Klopp opted to make two changes, hauling off Nunez and Jota in favour of Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott.

Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League against Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti has revealed where he thinks Jurgen Klopp got it wrong.

“If we draw at home and play like we did tonight, we probably go out as well. They were the better team in three halves of this tie and that’s how you go through. It’s not what we wanted but it’s what we got. It’s the match we wanted. “I think we played and managed it well,” Ancelotti told reporters. “The right team went through, we have to admit that.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has responded to an unusual gesture made by Real Madrid in the wake of the host's 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabéu last ...

Liverpool.com says: There's always been a lot of respect between Liverpool and Real Madrid, two of Europe's grandest clubs and two of the most storied. "We are two heavyweights who meet each other quite frequently in international competition and it’s clear we respect each other a lot and however we did something like that, it was a really nice gesture I have to say (via the [ECHO](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-real-madrid-26481823)). “I was not angry after the game, I was disappointed. I would be angry if we would have played better and it was close and they won because of a penalty which isn’t a penalty or things like that, but in the end that all didn’t happen. A single goal from Karim Benzema produced another Madrid win, a 6-2 aggregate score line, and capped off what has been a miserable season for the Reds. It was always going to be a mammoth task for Liverpool.